Meeting: The Banyan Project! An Innovative Model for Community-Owned Journalism

Veteran journalist Tom Stites, will make a presentation in SF on a topic that's crucial to the future of our democracy: How our communities can have the reliable journalism they need despite the withering of the newspapers that long have provided most original reporting. Please save the date for Monday, April 29, 2013.

Tom is the founder of the Banyan Project, a startup that's pioneering a new business model for community Web journalism that's designed to thrive in the digital future, even as newspapers and other legacy models wither: Citizen-owned co-operatives. We could create them here in the Bay Area!

He has a fascinating story to tell. This gathering is also being co-hosted by board members who live in the Bay Area: the Web developer Angus Durocher, journalist and author Dan Gillmor, and journalist, editor and Independent Arts & Media founder, Josh Wilson.

Given the people we're inviting, the gathering is sure to be an interesting bunch! It'll be informal and small enough to ensure good conversation after Tom speaks. Last week Tom presented at the National Conference for Media Reform in Denver, the latest event on a speaking calendar that has included several major conferences on the future of journalism. Word is there was a great buzz about Banyan Project at NCMR!

Tom shaped this model as a fellow of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard. He also draws on a distinguished career as a newspaper and magazine editor and as an entrepreneur who has founded two magazines and three Web publishing efforts before Banyan. His vision combines both a long view as well as a perspective from the leading edge of journalism for the Digital Age.

Full disclosure: Tom is on a fundraising tour. He is serious when he says you are welcome whether you donate or not, and the event itself is free, but please do bring your checkbook -- I think you'll be moved to help in this important social venture!

We hope you can join us on April 29th. This is an historic moment for journalism and for the future of our democracy. Please make sure to RSVP on our EventBrite page, where you'll find details about time and place. Feel free to share this invitation with friends and colleagues.

If you can't join us, we hope you see enough value in this project to make a valued donation, which is easy: just click the donate button on Banyan's webpage.